UN agencies launch global framework to track extreme heat risks

The World Health Organization (WHO), World Meteorological Organization (WMO), UNICEF, and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) have launched a new global framework to monitor the health impacts of extreme heat on pregnant women, newborns, and children.

The initiative introduces 19 priority indicators to help governments track risks such as preterm births, stillbirths, low birthweight, pregnancy-related hypertension, and child deaths. By matching health data with weather patterns, authorities aim to strengthen early-warning systems and prepare healthcare facilities for patient surges during heatwaves.

Research cited by the WHO indicates that extreme heat exposure is associated with a 26 per cent increase in the odds of preterm birth. Furthermore, infants under one year of age experienced 389 per cent more heatwave days in 2024 compared to the 1986–2005 baseline period. An estimated 1.5 billion children worldwide are currently exposed to increasingly frequent and severe heatwaves.